Base-plate for rail-joints.



F. E. ABBOTT.A

BASE PLATE FOR BAH. lOlNTS.

lAlLJCA'i'KH FILED HAR. 22, 1911 Patented Jlm'`26, 1917. v

rltlelvnnrit sT-ATEs PATENT OFFICE. i

E. ABBOTT, OF BUFFLQaNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 LACKAWZANNA STEEL COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BASE-PLATE non RAIL-Jamais.

I 1,231,543. i e

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Application -ied March 22, 1917 Serial No. 156,612.

.l bridge plates for rail joints, and-consists in ia new formation of plate in which the central portion is both inwardly and upwardly curved to form a peculiar composite quadrant arch having the greatest strength at the center, and adapted to take up uniformly all stresses, whether vertical, lateral, or oblique,

and transmit them from the center to the ends, where` they are received by the ties and the spikes. I call lthis a composite quad-` rant arch, because, taken at any angle in the quadrant between the perpendicular and the 'horizontah there is presented a true arch :to lreceive the oblique or resultant stresses, as well as the perpendicular and horizontal and transmit all the stresses outwardly toward the supports at the ends.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawing herewith in which the reference numerals of the description indicate the corresponding parts in the figures. Figures 1 and 2 indicate respectively a plan and side elevation of a railjoint illustrating my invention. Fig. 3 is al vertical cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et is a cross section of a base plate with' the other parts removed. Fig. 5 is a View corresponding to Fig. il with parts .broken away. showing certainI .modifications In the ligures are shown thc usual elements of'the track structure, that is 1 1 are the ties, 2 2 the rails and 3 3 the splice-bars, secured in position by the usual bolts, nuts -and nut locks and by the spikes 4 4. 5 indicates my bridgeplate having the composite arch 6, strongest at its highestand innermost points on the section line 3. From that line the arch is curved outwardly and downwardly in a composite curve to the supporting ties and spikes 7 7.

rlhe plate is first rolled of uniform width.v and, during the process of rolling or thereafter, the central portion is formed into the arch. Preferably this is done by bull-d'ozing after the plate is rolled. but I do not limit myself to any particular process of formation. The plates might be cast if the cost permitted that.

The advantages of my composite arch construction are that I producel a strong and rigid base plate adapted to take up all stresses and to give the greatest strength and stiffness inproportion to its weight, and therefore with the greatest economy. of

metal, and economy in handling and in tra-nsf portation. My arch extends upwardly, so that no portion extends downwardly'below the upper surface of the ties to interfere with the ties and come in contact with-the ballast. The arch can thus be made long enough to carry the load to the centers of the foundation members, which are here the ties.

Other features of my invention relate to strengthening the edges, providing a bearing for the spike yheads and engaging edges to bite into the ties, all of which features are fully shown. I prefer to thicken and so strengthen the edges of the base plate for instance as shown in Fig. 3 at 11,or better as shown in Fig. 5, where the thickening and reinforcing of the edges is produced by bevels which differ slightly on the upper and lower surfaces, that is, the upper (inner) bevel 12 is longer and more gradual and therefore adapted to tit the lower surface of the spike head and support the same as shown in Fig. 5, whereas the lower (outer) bevel 13 is shorter and sharper and therefore forms a sharp rib to bite into the tie and coperate with the spikes to resist movementof the plate on the ties.

Also I prefer that the edge 1-1 should be outwardly inclined, so that when the central portions are bent upinto the arches these edges are practically level. Both positions are best shown. in Fig.

I prefer also to provide up turned lugs or claws 15 at the ends of the plate on both sides of the rail, which act both as anti- Creepers and as rail guides. To that end the space 17 between the rail flange and lug and the space 18 between the angle bar iiange and the center of the arch should be provided, to allow for variations in widths of the rails and of the angles in place, but

etl

subject to lateral pressure. To resist such displacement isfone of the important functions of my composite arch.

Having described my invention I claim,

1. A base plate for rail joints having the central portion of each side upwardly and inwardly curved in a composite arch. presenting similar arches to receive the stresses and transmit them to the supports at the ends in all longitudinal sections taken at any angle of the quadrant between the perpendicular and the horizontal.

'2. A base plate for rail joints having a central flat bearing surface for the rails extending longitudinally from end to end, and

having the central portion of each side inwardly and upwardly curved to present a true arch in any longitudinal section taken at any angle of the quadrant between the perpendicular and the horizontal. said arches being adapted to receive all stresses, vertical, late `al and oblique. and transmit the stresses to the supports at the ends.

3. A base plate for rail joints having a flat central bearing surface for the rai-l extending longitudinally from end to end, and the central portion of each side inwardly and upwardly curved to form a' composite arch having its highest and innermost point adapted to be arranged at about the joint between the rails said highest point being below the splice-bar bolts to permit access thereto. and said innermost point being spaced slightly from the splice bar flange.

si. A base plate for rail joints having the central portion of each side inwardly and upwardly curved to f orm a composite arch, said arch extending from about the center of one tie to the center of the next and being flattened, with its highest portion below the splice-bar bolts to permit access thereto.

5. A base plate for rail joints having the central portion of each side inwardly and upwardly curved to form a fiat and long composite arch extending to about the center of the adjacent ties, said composite arch presenting similar arches in all longitudinal sections taken at any angle of the quadrant to receive the vertical. lateral and oblique or resultant stresses and transmit the same to the supports at the ends.

6. A base plate for rail joints having the central portion of each side inwardly and upwardly curved in a composite arch, presenting similar arches to receive the stresses in all longitudinal sections taken at any angle of the quadrant and havingr its `side edges thickened and reinforced.

7. A base plate for rail joints having the lcentral portion of each side i-nwardly and upwardly curved to form a composite arch. and having integral lugs at the ends npturned to lie on each side of the rail and slightly spaced therefrom the innermost portions of the arches being spaced to receive between 'them'the rails and the splicebars and to leave a small space between the central inner portion of each arch and the splice-bar flange, substantially equal to the space between the lug and the rail flange.

S. A base plate for rail joints having the central portions of its sides inwardly and upwardly curved to form flat composite arches. and the side edges of the plate reinforced by bevels adjacent the edges. the bevelsl on the upper and inner surfaces being longer and more gradual to support the spike heads.v and the bevels on `the lower and outer surfaces being shorter and sharper to bite into the tie.

i). A base plate for rail joints adapted to rest on the ties and having all portions arranged above the ties, said plate having the"ce.ntral portion of its sides inwardly and upwardly curved to form flat composite arches, said .arches being substantially longer than the space between the ties and adapted to transmit the stresses about to the middle of the adjacent ties.

10. A base plate for rail joints having portions inwardly and upwardly curved to form arches, and having its side edges thickened. andthe surface of said edges slightly outwardly inclinedl so that these y edges on the upwardly bent portions shall be practi 'ally level and horizontal.

11. A base plate for rail joints having its side edges thickened and strengthened by bevels adjacent the edges, the bevels on the upper surface being more gradual to tit the spike heads and the bevels on the lower surface being sharper and less gradual to bite into the ties. and the edge surface be# ing inclined at an angle to the sides so as to be substantially level and horizontal when bent upwardly and downwardly.

In testimony' whereof I have signed my name to this specifi ation.

FRANKLIN E. ABBOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, D. C. 

